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I recently ended things with my boyfriend of 7 months. It was difficult on many levels. I knew it wasn’t a relationship the Lord wanted me to be in, yet I pursued it anyway. I consumed my time with him too. I was happy living this life of having someone near me constantly. We shared the same friends, had many of the same interests and school activities, and yet that wasn’t enough for our relationship. God has given me dreams and desires. I am going to live in Africa and minister there. I am going to raise my family on the “mission field” and am very excited about it. I know that this wasn’t an interest he shared with me. I guess I knew from the beginning that things weren’t really going to work out, but it was comfortable being in that place with him. I returned from Swaziland and the Lord was telling me that it was time to end it. He was wanting to take me to a place of renewal and refreshing before leading a group of students in South Africa for 9 months. I’ve been there before. Relationships can be a hinderance to the family unit that is our team. Even though he would be here, a lot of my time and would be consumed with thinking about the next time I could talk to him or send him an email. So back to what the Lord has been telling me. The time that I spent with this guy I could be spending with Him, going deeper into an intimate relationship. It was a mutual decision. We ended things and I didn’t think it would be that difficult. I still see him around and every time I do my heart breaks again. I had created a bond between us that is still very much there. I had to leave tonight so I wouldn’t make mistakes I would regret later. It was difficult. As I walked away crying I was so mad at myself. Why do I continually place myself in these situations? Wouldn’t it be easier to avoid relationships all together? Or what would happen if we got back together until I left for South Africa. I turned to my good friend and was expressing my current dilemma. Then she spoke words I knew to be true, just needed a reminding of them tonight. 

It is natural to love. God has ingrained in us to be people of relationships, who love and care for one another. Returning to a situation God has already told me to get out of would only cause harm to the work he is doing in me to prepare me for this time of leadership that is ahead of me. He is taking me through a process of refining through fire and even though it is a painful process and not at all pleasant, the end result will be something precious and amazing! Those words weren’t all that precious to hear, but they were words of encouragement none the less. Will this process ever get easier? Probably not. I think that once one area has been refined and been made precious He will only take me back through the fire again. 

2 responses to “Refining by Fire”

  1. Love you Is and am so proud of you… it has been a privilege to share with you (even just the little bits that I have) through your journey so far… am so excited to see where God pulls you to…

    Love you muchly!

    Howard

  2. Thanks for following the Lord in obedience to Him. It’s not easy but rewarding. God is going to use you in Africa as you walk with Him now. He’s preparing you for what’s ahead.